Wal-Mart Superstore Threatens Wilderness Battlefield

Court Hears Preliminary Arguments in Challenge to “Wilderness Wal-Mart”
Ultimately, we hope our involvement in this lawsuit will save Wilderness Battlefield and lead to more thoughtful development decisions in Orange County.

One Man’s Treasure is Another Man’s…
Written by Priya Chhaya This past week I stumbled across this article on Bloomberg.com, which is a brief sketch of individuals who have thrown objects at valuable pieces of art. Some part of me cries sacrilege, while another part recognizes some (not all) as audacious expressions of protest against a perceived injustice. And it got me [...]

Wilderness Wal-Mart: Local Elected Officials Vote to Approve Big-Box Development on Civil War Landscape
Written by Rob Nieweg Shortly after 1:00 am this morning (August 25, 2009) the Orange County (VA) Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a plan to build 240,000 square feet of big-box development within the historic boundaries of Wilderness Battlefield and immediately adjacent to the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. The infamous “Wilderness Wal-Mart” [...]

Wilderness Wal-Mart: A Glimmer of Hope?
Local planning commission’s vote is 4-4, effectively recommending denial of Wal-Mart’s application Written by Rob Nieweg Last night the Planning Commission for Orange County, Virginia, met to consider an application for a special use permit to construct 240,000 square feet of big box development within the historic boundaries of Wilderness Battlefield and immediately adjacent to the Fredericksburg [...]

Public Hearing Rescheduled for “Wilderness Wal-Mart”
Written by Rob Nieweg As we announced on Monday, just four hours before its July 27 public hearing, the Orange County (VA) Board of Supervisors abruptly canceled the public’s opportunity to share their views on Wal-Mart’s controversial plan to build 240,000 square feet of big box development on the Wilderness Battlefield and adjacent to the Fredericksburg [...]

Submitted by Anon at: October 5, 2009
How goes Virginia? Ohio’s $68.5 Million “Walmart Tax” 11 Comments| Oct 02, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From our allies over at Wake Up Walmart: If you are an Ohio taxpayer, you’re probably footing the bill for Walmart’s unaffordable health care plans. Newly released data shows that Ohio spends roughly $68.5 million each year providing state benefits to Walmart employees. The numbers are staggering. Over 15,000 Walmart employees use Medicaid, 12,000 are on food stamps, and thousands more utilize other state-run programs. Worst of all, it’s paid for out of Ohio taxpayers’ pockets. Walmart doesn’t need your money to support its employees. With nearly $14 billion in profits last year, Bentonville can clearly afford to do better. We can’t allow Walmart to fail its employees and your state. Please take action: inform your local newspaper about Walmart’s exploitation of Ohio’s health and welfare programs. Write Your Newspaper: Let Your Community Know That Walmart is Failing Ohio Walmart claims to support health care reform and the employer mandate. Yet, In spite of astronomical profits, Walmart fails to cover 700,000 of its employees and offers plans too costly for its average employees to afford. Walmart claims that nearly 95% of its employees are covered by company health care or by a family member. Yet, in Ohio, 28% of Walmart’s Ohio employees are on Medicaid. Walmart’s claims simply don’t add up, and your state needs to know about it. Why is Ohio subsidizing the #1 company in the Fortune 500? Let Ohio know that you won’t allow your tax dollars to be a stopgap for Walmart’s low wages and unaffordable health coverage. Write a Letter to the Editor Today With your help, we can make Walmart live up to its responsibilities to its workers and to Ohio. The Team, WakeUpWalMart.com

Submitted by John C. Gray at: September 28, 2009
Charlottesville-Right Now: Rick Britton Local author and historian, Rick Britton , joined Charlottesville Right Now to discuss the proposed Wal-Mart near the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County and give the latest edition of his Civil War Quiz. Standard Podcast [20:16m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download (41) ShareThis September 25th, 2009 | Category: Authors, Charlottesville Podcasts, Charlottesville--Right Now, History, Interviews, New audio, News, Outside Charlottesville, Radio Shows, Rick

Submitted by Arthur Nicholas CMAP at: September 24, 2009
The Wilderness Battle and indeed the Civil War was fought over State Rights. In order to convince new states to join the United States, states entering the Union by rule of Constitution reserved the right to secede for whatever reason its citizens chose. These rules were broken by Mr. Lincoln on many occasions before and after the attack on Fort Sumter. Mr. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and held State Senators from states wishing to secede against their will. All of this was done through lawyers and the people payed! Today we have a new battle near the same site where many fought and died before. This time the battle should be fought by the people and for the good of the people (only pro-bono lawyers seeking good reputations need be heard). The questions that should be posed are: Who is really opposed to Wal-Mart locating here? Could it be the overpriced Ma and Pa Vendors already in the area? If Wal-Mart is allowed to locate here, will Wal-Mart assist the community by sharing the cost (80% WMT 20% local government) of adding lanes and new signalization at the adjacent major intersections which may already be congested due to poorly planned previous commercial development near this location? Will good land-use planning practices be composed (shared parking, public transportation, shielding parking lots and commercial land-use form park-facilities, etc..) limiting commercial growth for this and all the areas around historic sites belonging to the "people"? This time we should fix the roads, beautify the area with appropriate zoning laws to reduce the visual impact of development clashing with historic areas, provide jobs, and provide a good economic future for this area. Make a model of this fiasco that benefits the people and not the lawyers.

Submitted by JesmanVA at: September 11, 2009
The debate rolls on. http://www.eeekonomy.com/discussion/Warmart-National-History-v-Extra-Low-Prices/26

Submitted by Bill at: September 4, 2009
We must band together to protect the Wilderness Battlefield where 25,416 lives were sacrificed both north and south for what they believed in and what made America strong today as a nation united.

Submitted by BC in Washington, D.C. at: September 4, 2009
I find the honoring of a slaughter field for humans bizarre in the first place. We should be ashamed of that horrible, useless war, not honor it. I would rather have it be in it's natural state than another lousy WalMart, but not because the soil is still damp with blood. That's just bizarre.

Submitted by Anonymous at: August 27, 2009
Not up with our area. So many lies were told. Need to watch traffic from Rt.3 turning left onto Orange from Fredericksburg. It gets so backed up now that often cars are back into the driving lane. So not the fault of Wal Mart. Our houses are on the battlefield grounds. Plus 2 shopping areas are in front of where Wal Marts will be. Too bad people don't know more of this area & where the store is to be before sounding out with so many not true statements. It wil help our taxes which we despertly are in need of, help people find jobs & make sales of a lot of empty & for sale homes in our Lake Of The Woods area. That location 3 & 20 is perfect for the store. To build anywhere on Rt. 3 wouldn't be any further away from the battle field. Even inside of LOW there's a burial stone. Our street has history & a marker at the end of it.

Submitted by cindi lou at: August 26, 2009
this is ridiculous.No respect for history.

Submitted by marissa at: August 25, 2009
I do not know if anyone reads this or if anyone cares, but as a warning, this is not going to be a well developed paragraph. It honestly breaks my heart. For some reason I've always been drawn to history, especially the Civil War. Is Walmart so money hungry that they have to build on historic sites? There are more than enough Walmarts spread throughout the US, let alone VA. What about smaller businesses that thrive on tourist activities in that area? The Wilderness Battlefield and surrounding area would no longer be a humble get away for those interested in history. I understand the need to grow, but Walmart is already a big business. Stop being so selfish. There would be no walmart if it wasn't for the people before you who made big selfish corporations possible. If I wasn't a seventeen year old nobody living in PA, I'd like to think I'd do more than sit by and watch this happen. I do not know much, but aren't there laws out there to protect historic sites? Why does this even have to be an issue?

Submitted by Phyllis Ascue at: August 15, 2009
I believe that the supervisors of Orange County, VA should not allow the Walmart Super Center put across the street from the Wilderness Battlefield. This battlefield has great meaning to me. My great-great grandfather, 1st Lt. Michael E. Bowers, Comapay K, 25th Virginia Infantry, CSA was captured at this battle and taken prisoner of war. He was sent to Fort Delaware prison and later became one of the Immortal 600 of the Confederate Army. We need to preserve these historial sites for future generations.

Submitted by George at: August 3, 2009
I believe that the State of Virginia should NOT pass legislation for this development. Corporations like these are destroying the Preservation of our American History. I do hope this bill is rejected at all cost.

Submitted by James Masland at: July 25, 2009
My great-grandfather, C.H. Masland fought in the Battle of the Wilderness as a private in the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

Submitted by Mark at: July 21, 2009
Dear Mr. Duke, I admit I've only occasionally shopped at Wal-Mart. A couple years ago Wal-Mart sold boxes of baseball cards that contained a player whose contract hadn't panned out, so his card was pulled from circulation. I picked up some boxes to try to get the rare card. And a week ago I bought a Flip Ultra camera in TIlton, NH. It wouldn't work; the battery or the power switch or both were duds. And also some sandals for $25. I forgot to look for arch support in the soles: none; so now they hurt my feet. What matters here? Two-thirds of my purchases at Wal-Mart were busts. Maybe all three since I didn't find that rare rookie card. My 2-year-old son and I did stop at a Peabody, MA store last evening to return the Flip. The experience was fine enough, and I bought him some goldfish and juice boxes. We live in Salem, MA, because we love history, and my wife and I work to tell the true story of Salem's several epochs and famous episodes to millions of visitors. Today I've learned that your store, which is batting a weak .333 in my league, is soon to swallow up some land in Virginia that's been deeply packed by the sore feet of fathers and sons like me and my boy. I grew up near Gettysburg, and I still sojourn there with millions of others each time I get home to my parents'. Why do I, why do we millions wander to such places, in groups, or singly, or with our boys on our shoulders? When we stand on soil that has been contested, we stand on a place the gods of history have deemed sacred. Hallowed ground. Lincoln said this better than I can. I wish Wal-Mart well, and hope for it a long, respectable life. But when, like the catalogue company of my own city, Daniel Low, Wal-Mart is finally a memory, what will have become of that ground it broke open so irrevocably? Will my son himself walk the open tracts at Wilderness when he is in his majority? If so, perhaps you will outfit his solemn ramble with rolled-back-priced goods to be got just a bit further down the road--at a location more fitting and proper for the surrendering of credit cards. And you'll have made a choice that a growing many will surely note and long remember. Sincerely, Mark Salem, Massachusetts

Submitted by Rob Nieweg at: July 20, 2009
Dear Ms. Sheffield: Thank you for sharing your opinion regarding the planned “Wilderness Wal-Mart.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Wilderness Battlefield Coalition don’t oppose economic growth in Orange County, Virginia. Instead, we’ve asked Wal-Mart to relocate to another site but away from the battlefield and National Park, which draw 170,000 people to Orange County each year. Many local residents oppose Wal-Mart’s proposal, as planned. “Seventy-two people told the Orange County Planning Commission May 21 what they thought about a proposal to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the Wilderness battlefield area. Two-thirds of the speakers were against the plan, with almost all of them saying they were not opposed to Wal-Mart but to the location, a quarter-mile north of the intersection of State Routes 3 and 20. The same plea was repeated over and over again: Build the Wal-Mart up the road, farther from the Civil War battlefield.” Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, June 10, 2009. As for Bill Rolfe, who you mention in your comment, on July 3, 2009, the Orange County Board of Supervisors abruptly fired Bill Rolfe, County Administrator, “after the supervisors expressed their displeasure at an e-mail he had sent them on June 15, suggesting there was a better location for the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter than on land near the Wilderness Battlefield. … In his e-mail, Rolfe told supervisors that it would be in the best interests of the county for them to ‘broker a deal that keeps Wal-Mart in the County and moves it away from the congressionally approved boundary line of the Wilderness Battlefield.’'' Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, July 4, 2009. Best regards, -- Rob Nieweg, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Submitted by pure texas at: July 18, 2009
Please leave our historic sites alone. There are enough Wal Marts around. This is a big country find another place to build your superstore/

Submitted by Jstmeamy2 at: July 16, 2009
I don’t understand why the Wal-mart in orange county is suck a big deal, especially to people who do not even live in Orange county, or Virginia for that matter. I am an Orange county resident and, am delighted to have a Wal-mart coming to our County! Not only will the store bring much needed jobs to the community, but the tax revenue as well. The convince of the new store is great for my family who have to travel at least 20 or more to Culpeper or Fredericksburg. Have anyone been to these battlefields sites? The grass is so high…what are you supposed to enjoy? I guess the mini-mall strip on either side of rt 20 are alright! I suppose no wounded solider was ever at the spot where the Sheetz or McDonalds now sits? The battle at Wilderness was not only over 150 years ago, it was a battle over slaves! People move on, and especially if you do not live in our county don’t comment on what is best for our community! As for Bill Rolfe, believe me when I tell you him proposing to move the Wal-Mart to property owned by King/ Dodson isn’t because he cares about the Wilderness Battlefield, it’s all about money! You scratch my back and I will scratch yours! I hope the Board of Supervisors makes the right decision and pass the vote YES to Wal-mart ! Signed a real resident of Orange County Va. Amy Sheffield

Submitted by e_pidgeon at: May 11, 2009
I find it interesting that a corporation that likes to hold itself out as being quintessentially American is so absolutely devoid of any patriotic respect for this "hallowed ground".

Submitted by Laura Richardson at: May 4, 2009
Please do not encroach upon an important historic site. Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.

Submitted by judy at: May 1, 2009
This would be a tragedy to have this unneeded superstore in this unique area.